By Rick Reeno
Twice it was scheduled and twice it was postponed. Kelly Pavlik vs. Paul Williams could very well become one of those fights, like Lennox Lewis vs. Riddick Bowe, that never actually happens. Williams' promoter Dan Goossen is still working to secure an opponent for his fighter's next HBO televised date of May 8. After two consecutive fights at middleweight, Williams plans to drop down to either junior middleweight or welterweight. Former champions Kermit Cintron and Luis Collazo continue to be mentioned as the frontrunner opponents for the May date.
The biggest hurdle in making Pavlik-Williams is the money. Williams' side is demanding a 50-50 deal, while Pavlik's side wants a higher percentage of the money. When asked about the possibility of the fight taking place in 2010 or 2011, Goossen wasn't exactly confident about Williams' chances of landing a Pavlik fight any time soon.
Goossen actually threw a minor jab at Top Rank for signing up Winky Wright, and their selection of future opponents for Pavlik. Last April, Williams decisioned Wright over twelve rounds. Wright, should he win his next couple of fights, could face Pavlik at the end of the year. Pavlik returns on April 17 against Sergio Martinez, who Williams beat in a very close majority decision last December. Williams-Martinez nearly clinched "Fight of The Year" honors from the BWAA.
"They seem to be looking at Paul's record and going down the list of opponents. The word going around the rumor mill is that Top Rank is planning to sign Sharmba Mitchell [who Williams stopped in 2006]," Goossen said to BoxingScene.com.
